Italy: Self-Guided Travel - 2021

Everything about a trip to Italy: how to get there, food prices in Italy, hotels and transport, a visa to Italy and travel by car. We also calculate how much a trip to Italy for two for a week costs.

Exchange rate: 1 euro ≈ 87 RUB.

Travel to Italy: how to get there

There are always inexpensive flights from Russia to Italy, which cannot but rejoice, because an impressive part of the amount that is postponed for travel is usually spent on a flight. Of course, most of the inexpensive offers of airlines are in the capital - you can fly from Moscow to Florence and Venice for 10 thousand or more, you can get from Moscow to Rome and Milan from about 9 thousand rubles (round trip). A flight from St. Petersburg to Milan and Rome will cost several hundred rubles more, and from about 11 thousand rubles it is worth flying to Venice. Read a detailed article on how to get to Rome cheaply, not only with traditional airlines, but also with low-cost airlines.

Where to find cheap tickets? This is most conveniently done using the search engines Aviasales and Skyscanner. To find the best price, check both and see tickets for different dates. Read also the instructions on how to search for cheap flights correctly.

Still not decided where exactly to rest in Italy? Read our review of the resorts!

Flights within Italy

You can fly within the country (as well as in Europe) very cheaply on low-cost airlines. One-way airfare starts from 10-15 euros (moreover, this price can be found for many directions of flights within Italy).

The low-cost airline Ryanair flies between many cities in Italy (Rome, Bari, Pisa, Milan, Genoa, Pescara, Turin, Palermo, etc.), as well as Volotea, easyJet, Blu-express, Vueling and others. The most convenient way to search for flights on European low-cost airlines is using the Skyscanner search engine.

An example of a cheap Ryanair domestic flight ticket:

Going on vacation to Rimini? Read our tips and reviews, and everything you need to know about shopping at this resort.

Visa to travel to Italy

A visa to travel to Italy in 2021 needs a regular one - a Schengen visa. The package of documents is standard. You need to submit documents in advance, since you will have to pay double the cost for urgency - 70 euros. Find out how to get a visa to Italy.

What documents are needed to travel to Italy:

• a passport valid for at least 3 months after returning from a trip;
• copy of the passport;
• internal passport;
• photo (color, taken no earlier than six months ago);
• visa application form (download here);
• copies and originals of round trip tickets (reservation / electronic tickets at choice);
• hotel reservation;
• medical insurance (coverage of at least 30 thousand euros);
• certificate from the place of work;
• confirmation of financial guarantee (copy of passbook, checks, account statement, etc.);
• consent to the processing of personal data;
• receipt of payment of the fee.

The cost of a short-term type C visa is 35 euros, the service fee at the visa center is 1350 rubles.

More detailed requirements for visa documents for a trip to Italy can be found on the website of the Italy Visa Application Center.

Get insurance online at Sravn.ru or Cherehapa - they compare prices from all major insurance companies. You can choose a policy according to the parameters you need and the best price. Cost - from 300 rubles per week.

Transport prices in Italy

• a trip by bus / metro in Rome - 1.5 euros, in Milan - about 1.70 euros, in Florence - 0.85 euros;
• train from the airport to the center of Rome - 8 euros (express train - 15 euros);
• 3 km taxi in Rome - from about 6.30 euros to 10 euros, in Milan - from 7 euros, in Florence - from 4.30 euros;
• taxi from the airport - from 100 euros;
• travel card for a day in Milan - 5 euros.

Taxis from / to the airport (and not only) can be ordered in advance using the Kiwi Taxi service.

Traveling to Venice? Read what to see in Venice in 1, 2 and 3 days and a selection of cheap apartments in Venice.

Food Prices in Italy - 2021

Italy is considered a fairly inexpensive country for vacation and travel, and you can really eat on a budget if you follow reasonable savings. This is where the catch awaits tourists: you can hardly resist spending on food while traveling in Italy. Think of it: cheeses, wine, pizza and pasta, fresh seafood, Italian ice cream and tiramisu!

How not to spend all your money on goodies? Follow a simple tip: when traveling in Italy, eat away from the tourist streets to save money. In restaurants and cafes for tourists, prices will be much higher. Do not eat in establishments at the hotel or located next to it - most likely, the price tag there will be overpriced.

A budget breakfast will cost 3-7 euros per person (in addition, many hotels offer a free breakfast). Lunch will cost 5-15 euros per person, and you can eat at an inexpensive restaurant in Italy for about 15 euros per person. A three-course lunch for two in a mid-range restaurant costs between 40 and 60 euros.

Pizza costs about 4-6 euros and more, pasta - 6-8 euros, tiramisu - about 4 euros. Beer in a restaurant (0.5 l) costs from 4.5 euros, imported (0.33 l) - from 3 euros. A cup of cappuccino - 1-2 euros. Pizza to go in small bakeries will cost about 3-4 euros.

If you are staying in an apartment or apartment on a trip to Italy and you have a kitchen, we advise you to cook on your own at least occasionally, so you will reduce your food costs. Go to the grocery markets for fruits and vegetables.

Estimated prices for food in stores in Italy in 2021:

• milk (1 l) - about 1.30 euros;
• a loaf of bread - about 1.20 euros;
• eggs (12 pcs) - about 2.80 euros;
• local cheese (1 kg) - about 10-13 euros;
• spaghetti - from 2.5 euros;
• chicken breasts (1 kg) - about 8.40 euros;
• apples (1 kg) - about 1.75 euros;
• oranges (1 kg) - about 1.5 euros;
• bananas - about 1.80 euros;
• tomatoes (kg) - about 1.80 euros;
• water (1.5 l) - about 0.40 euros;
• a bottle of wine - about 5 euros;
• local beer (0.5 l) - about 1.20 euros.

Prices may vary depending on the city, area and supermarket. Inexpensive supermarkets in Italy: Unes, Esselunga, Carrefour, U2, Lidl.

Related article: How to celebrate the New Year in Italy (Rome).

Prices for hotels in Italy in 2021

When planning a trip to Italy, we advise you to book your accommodation in advance, especially if you are traveling during the high season. Firstly, this way you can save money (for example, Rumguru will find great deals for you - sometimes the remaining unbooked rooms in a three-star hotel can be rented at a ridiculous price thanks to discounts), and secondly, you will be calm - you do not need to go around hotels with your luggage in search of free number.

Why do we recommend looking for hotels at the best price on Rumguru? The service searches for cheap offers among several booking systems, compares prices and finds the best one for each hotel. So you will not overpay for housing.

In the center of Rome in the summer of 2021 there are hotels from 35 euros per night for two - for example, the cute Mandarin Guest House near the National Roman Museum. A night in a two-star hotel in the center of Rome costs from 100 euros (for example, the cheapest 2 * hotel is Sweet Dreams).

In Florence, you can find a standard double room in a hotel from 47 euros per night (not far from the Old Town), on average, the cost per room is from 60 euros. In Milan, near the Central Station, a double room also costs from 47 euros per night, on average from 60 euros. But rooms in hotels near the historic center of Milan are very expensive.

If you prefer to live in private apartments and houses while traveling, then it is better to look for them on the popular rental service from the owners of Airbnb.ru - there you can find very comfortable accommodation at any price! Prices for apartments in Italy are approximately the following: in Rome and Florence - from 37 euros, many offers for 45-60 euros. Sometimes you can find interesting offers - for example, a cozy studio in the center of Rome, next to Villa Borghese, for 50 euros per night. We also have an article on five attractive apartments in Rome - perhaps it will help you with your choice of accommodation in the Eternal City.

Prices for attractions in Rome

Since many tourists go primarily to Rome, where the main sights of Italy are concentrated, we will tell you more about the Eternal City.

Attractions in Rome are reasonably priced, and many of them are also free, and this is a huge plus. Well, those that do charge admission are definitely worth paying and seeing. Remember that some monuments and landmarks cause a stir among tourists - for example, the Colosseum and the Vatican Museum, so come a lot early to take the line. (or better, buy tickets online - for example, you can buy tickets to the Vatican Museum and Roman museums here).

If you are in Rome in transit and you have little time or only a couple of days left, check out our guide article "What to see in Rome".

Here are the prices for some of the sights of Rome:

• Colosseum - 12 euros for adults, from 18 to 25 years old - 7.5. The price includes a visit to the Roman Forum and the Palatine.
• Vatican Museum - 16 euros for adults, students - 4 euros, children from 6 to 18 years old - 8 euros.
• Borghese Museum and Gallery - € 11 for adults.
• National Gallery of Modern Art - € 10 for adults.
• Spanish Steps - 1 euro.

You can purchase Roma Pass and save a little: it allows you to visit the first 2 museums for free, gives discounts on subsequent museums, exhibitions, attractions, monuments, etc., and also allows you to travel for free on public transport and go to the Colosseum and Castel Sant'Angelo without queuing. This card costs 36 euros and is valid for 3 days.

There is also a Roma Pass for 48 hours, the price is 28 euros, but it allows you to visit only 1 museum for free. Check out the Roma Pass on the official website: www.romapass.it.

As already mentioned, there are many museums in Rome that do not charge an entrance fee - read about them in the article "Free museums in Rome".

Traveling in Italy by car

Traveling to Italy by car is wonderful! Traveling on your own by car will give you many wonderful moments, but do not forget the documents for the car and their copies:

• car registration certificate;
• international insurance policy (carta verde);
• rights;
• if the car is not in your ownership, a notarized power of attorney from the owner is required. The same is true if the car is owned by the company - a power of attorney for driving on the letterhead of the organization.

When visiting several Schengen countries, prepare your itinerary.

You can also rent a car at Rentalcars.com, an international car booking service. If you are planning to rent a car, then, among other documents, you must have a contract for the lease of this car with you. Find out more about car rental in Italy.

How much does a trip to Italy cost in 2021

Based on the above, you can calculate the minimum cost of a trip to Italy for two. Take, for example, a week off in Rome. The cost of a trip to Italy will consist of such components as:

• air travel round trip from Moscow or St. Petersburg to Rome - 150 + 150 euros (for two);
• accommodation in an inexpensive hotel near the center of Rome - 35 euros per night in a double room, that is, 245 euros for 7 days;
• food (3 times a day) - about 70 euros for two, that is, a total of 490 euros;
• attractions - 36 euros (let's say you bought a Roma Pass to save money on the Colosseum and the Vatican Museum - the most expensive attractions);
• insurance - from 10 euros for two. Buy insurance →

It is difficult to calculate transport costs, since you are unlikely to limit yourself to visiting one city as part of your trip to Italy, right?

So how much does a trip to Italy cost for a week for two? 300 + 245 + 490 + 36 + 10 = 1081 euros.

Of course, this is the minimum amount for living in one city - Rome. If you are planning a long independent trip to Italy, then add here the transportation costs to the cities of Italy and between them, the purchase of various souvenirs / clothes and various household expenses, accommodation in other cities, meals, and so on. In addition, the requests of all people are different - someone will want more of these delicious tiramisu :)